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Open Burning Stays

By Jon Lloyd

Staff Writer

A motion to ban the open burning of leaves in Boone failed in a city council meeting Monday night.

By a 2-4 vote, Boone City Council members rejected the impassioned requests of several citizens this spring, who cited leaf burning’s negative health effects as the No. 1 reason to repeal the ordinance that allows residents to burn leaves on their property in the spring and fall.

Following that vote, council unanimously passed a motion that would keep the ordinance as it is but added a component that would educate the public about open burning alternatives, such as mulching, composting and using the county landfill, and also increase fines when it is done outside the allotted time periods.

Council members voting against the motion were Shari Gillespie, second ward; Nick Mallas, third ward; Kevin Hicks, fourth ward; and Gary Nystrom, at-large. Voting in favor were Fenner Stevenson, first ward, who made the motion, and Greg Piklapp, fifth ward. At-large Councilman Steven Paul Ray was absent.

Council’s decision was apparently based in part on the recommendation of a committee tasked earlier this month to look into alternatives to open leaf burning, such as mulching, composting, pick-up by private waste companies or the city, and taking leaves to the county landfill, as well as associated costs. The committee was comprised of City Administrator Luke Nelson, Gilespie, Utility Billing Clerk Rachel Crooks, City Parks Superintendent Mike Cornelis and Mayor John Slight.

Before council voted, Slight said the committee reviewed alternatives, such as city pick up, which would cost approximately $35- to $40,000 for personnel and $40,000 for one equipped truck (the city would probably need two); removing the burn ban completely; putting the issue to voters; and educating the public about composting, mulching, the best ways to burn and how it negatively affects neighbors.

“We really tried to cover as much as we could,” Slight said. “The one concession that everyone agreed upon in the committee was they did not want the city to have to subsidize any of this. The committee felt that it was best to keep it how it is right now. They felt it was fair. No one is ever going to be happy on this issue. We know that. We clearly understand that. Budget wise, we just couldn’t do it.”

Before council voted, Stevenson said he was 100 percent opposed to the city subsidizing any alternatives. Nystrom said he received a lot of calls from people on both sides of the issue, though most favored keeping open burning in place.

“I would feel strongly that if we say were going to continue to allow burning that we do something for education,” Nystrom said. “I think that would cut some down.”

“It’s a health issue,” Piklapp said, who mulches his leaves. “I’m all for education and stricter enforcement. However, I think it’s something to be said when the majority of the smoke is happening at night, it’s not allowed, but people do it because, one, they don’t want to be seen doing it. Two, they don’t want their neighbors knowing they’re doing it.”

Jen Lemke, who asked council in May to repeal the ordinance, said if a full burn ban was put into effect, it would “not take people long to understand and they would get the message if $100 tickets were issued.”

Reiterating that there are many alternatives to open burning, she proposed an education period from the upcoming burning season through next year and then put the burn ban into effect.

“Education is huge,” she said. “Let’s educate those people that want to continue to keep burning after we tell them we can’t. Let them know why we made this decision and why it’s important. I hope that you guys will reconsider and do what is going to benefit everyone in the long run.”

Tyler Watson, 33, who lives at 328 Monona Street, said he was in favor of continuing open burning, adding that he lived on a corner lot that had lots of leaves, “over a 100 bags.”

“I understand people don’t like it,” he said. “I don’t like breathing it in either, but it’s just a matter of cost, convenience. It’s just the easiest, simplest thing for me to do.”

After the vote, Nystrom said that “no matter what we do, we’re not going to please 100 percent of the people. But I hope the people that are opposed to leaf burning understand that we are going to try, and I truly believe the (council members) around this table will try, to see what we can do to educate (the public).”

Open leaf burning periods are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 15 to May 15, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 1 to Nov. 15. Current fines are $90 plus a $60 court fee.

Bill Skare, director of public safety and Boone’s police chief, suggested that any fines imposed should be civil penalties and not criminal.

Regarding the educational aspect, Nelson said he would be happy for any assistance putting together the educational material and exploring ways to distribute it to residents.